DABUZZ'z 1971 Mazda Capella RE + New 74 RX4

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More paint!

 

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Next up for colour is, valance and inside boot lid

 

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Put on my car upholsterer hat this week.

Bought new door card backings, snd had previously bought some repro vinyl trim, only had to use my original metal  tops. The board and tops are stapled together from factory, I was never going to be able to staple again, so, came up with idea of drilling out the staple holes with a small bit, and feeding through wire, twisting at the other end, then using hammer snd dolly to flatten it right down, worked mint!

Have finished one card so far, halfway through second, not perfect, but still looks way tidier, I've already learnt enough that the next one will be even better.

Also fitted new flocked window rubbers on the inner, fit perfect for repro

 

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Shell painted today- majorly stoked!

Crap booth pics, but had to share.

 

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Blackouts done

Start assembly tomorrow, amped

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Good day fitting up suspension brakes diff etc

 

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Motor and box in for good now, plus a number of other parts,  including the new HPCd extractors 

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Panel fit up today, last big day at the paint shop, can't thank Whenuapai Auto Refinish enough for their attention to detail and quality work.

 

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Engine bay well underway

A few badges lights windows, chrome etc fitted too

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Hesps going on, no real pics, but car is 90% wired, just gotta do tail light loom, windows being fitted with new front screen, all the badges, chrome and rubbers are on.

Hood lining in

Underbody nearly done, just gotta fit fuel tank.

brake lines are doing my head in, keeps leaking in the fittings, when I've tried to bleed, will keep trying 

 

 

 

 

 

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Screens in  new front, had to reuse the rear, it has a few scratches being 50 years old, but i have no choice.

Clutch  all bled up, pedal feels good, not too heavy. And typically i cant go forward without going back on this car, Filled the radiator, and the waterpump leaked, was supposed to be mint, can't buy new, so have to send away for reco.

Fuel tank in, just got to complete the lines.

 

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Boot area finished, all trims cleaned up, jack restored including new stickers   new tail light covers, underlay/carpets etc

 

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Car fully rewired now, Garth at Lane Customs did a killer job, everything tested and works, including exterior and interior lights, engine accessories, fans fuel pump etc, bur as usual with this build, can't go forwards without going back, have discovered, the supposedly mint electronic twin dizzys, have faulty optical sensors, so they are away, hopefully can be repaired, as they are an unusual set-up. I also still have to get the brakes sorted, not leaking now, just have a soft pedal, will keep working at it.

Once those 2 items sorted, I should  finally be able to prep for start up. 

Have borrowed a NOS bonnet for compliance, I still don't have one- only major thing to buy.

 

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Bought a repro factory sticker kit, there's more here than shown,  only a small item, but makes a big difference I think.

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Keeping with the 2 steps forwards, one back theme- have fitted the grille and new badges including a NOS AA badge , have horn working properly now, brakes way better  but pedal a touch soft., and then...... my new handbrake cable snapped- God damn this car is fighting me the whole way.

 

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Heard from the electronics specialist - can't fix my dizzys, ffs. So I've ordered some Accuspark kits, nothing off the shelf for these motors, but i think I can adapt- well I hope so, or that's more $ and time wasted.

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Fitted new ignitors, fairly straightforward job, just got to get sparky to come tidy up the wiring again. 

And 'Finally' sussed the brakes out, found I needed to adjust the little push rod between the booster and the master, pedal feels great now, so it's now on its wheels, almost ready for start up!

 

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It goes!!!!!!, had a mate drop in to help fire it up on the weekend, (I dont know how to put vids up here without making a YouTube vid), I've even even driven  it around the block a few times, so stoked!!

Got a few issues to sort, brakes still not good enough  need to lock the dizzys, and the carb isn't performing quite right and strangely I have no third gear, will have to figure that one out.

But overall, very happy, it pulls really well on the road, goes better than I expected tbh